One Day at a Time

One of the first things that we see when we begin our journey into recovery, head down, spirit broken, are little three or four word slogans staring back at us from cheap picture frames. We don't know whether to cry, scream in anger, or throw up in the wastebasket. We are very, very complicated people with very, very complicated problems that are going to require some advanced recovery techniques. We expect intricate mathematical formulas and profound philosophical techniques, not snappy little ditties.

"One Day at a Time" seems especially stupid. It just isn't going to cut it. We eye the other folks in the meeting suspiciously. We have so much to think about, so much to plan for. Bad things are going to happen; messes have to be cleaned up. We don't have time to be where we are -- we need to be somewhere else fixing problems and achieving results. The present is boring. It's frustrating to sit quietly. Our heads are full of swirling thoughts.

I don't believe that there is a better foundation for living than the concept of being in the here and now. Virtually every religion or philosophy for right living has as a cornerstone the principle of sitting quietly in the present. This is what prayer and meditation is meant to achieve. This is why concentrating on one's breathing is so important to yoga. This is why monasteries are built in the remote mountains.

We are trying to shut down the noise and be in the moment. How bad are things right this minute?